Same!
Starting with a Stage 1 install was what got me (with some guidance of a friend and the perfect Gentoo Wiki) into Linux circa 2004 (IIRC).
Now, some 20 years later, i much prefer to have not to deal with something as... dare i say.. fragile... anymore.
Yes, much of the breakage i dealt with was probably self-inflicted but always a good learning experience - but most of the time not at the most convenient time :(
